Deontay Wilder is expected to derail the latest hopes for a world heavyweight title clash with Anthony Joshua and leave the global title scene more fragmented than ever.
Wilder’s announcement that his next fight will be against Dominic Breazeale will also confirm the rejection of a massive offer to team up with Joshua’s US broadcasters, which could have led to a unification fight.
It means that the three leading heavyweights — London’s four-belt champion Joshua, WBC title holder Wilder and Tyson Fury — will each be linked up with three different American TV outlets.
This places huge negotiating obstacles in the way of any fights between them.
Joshua is connected to the new DAZN subscription outlet, Fury has signed an £80million deal with ESPN and, barring a major shock, Wilder is expected to announce on Tuesday that he will continue his relationship with the Showtime pay-per-view company for the Breazeale fight.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn said: “If Wilder has signed a multi-fight deal with Showtime, it will be clear they don’t want the Joshua fight.”
